Toy



' Jlie 28,1960 v R.W.QMAN ETAL 2,942,379

" 'roY v Filed' March 1c, 195e INV ENT OR.

TOY

Richard w. ornati, 25829 38th. Aye. is., Minneapolis, Minn., and I. Glass, 7. E. Ohio St., Chicago, lll.; said Oman assigner to Marvin. I. Glass Fixed Mar. 1o, 195s,Vv ser. No. 120,257

sfclaims. (c1. 4ta-.228)

This invention relates to improvements in toys and particularly toys which are self-righting, and are popularly called roly-poly toys. p Y

Toys of this general class are usuallyconstructed with a base which maybe spherical' or of a generally convex or bulbous shape which is usually circular in horizontal cross section. However, the self-positioning feature of these devices need notl necessarily be obtainedy bythe use ofn a convex surface which has a circular cross section. Itis, suiiicient thatthe` device, when canted or tilted so as to rock it into anypositiony away from its normal rest position, is capable of lself-righting itself so that when placed, upon a level surface, it will normally seek a predetermined rest position.. y

Toys of this ygeneral character described in the past have usually been made more attractive to children by ice Y 2 showing the toy in a rocked positionas comparedl withA its rest position in Figure 1; v

Figure 4 is a front elevation similar-to Figure l., but showing the toy rocked'into, still anotherfposition in .order to bring into viewv a. still differentpcture;

Figure l5 is a section taken on the line 5,-2-5 o fFigure 1,;

Figure 6 is a section taken on theline--- ofFigureS;

Figure 7 is a view similar to, Figure 5, but showing a diiferent type of attention-directing device.; and

Figure 8 is a section taken .on the line 8.,-8 of-Figure 7;.

Referring to the drawings; it willl be seen that the toy is, in the present instance, constructed'of `three main elements. The base or lower element. isA in the forml of a hollow, hemispherical shell 11 constructed of opaque plastic material, and' a similarly shaped hollow shell 12, also made -of'plastic material buttransparent so that it will serve as a protective window, is attached to the lower shell 11 to. complete the body of the toy which is 'inv the form of a ball. Through this Vwindow/12, the child can see the upper surface of a diametricallyl extending partition element 13 on the front side of which (not visible in Figure 2), there are placed formations con.- stituting the variable picture element 14, indicated in Figure 6, which in this case isintendedto represent a multifview element of the typeV shown in the Saalburg patent. The partition element 13 may alsobe fabricated of plastic material.

When the lparts shown in Figure 2 are assembled into the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the three elements previously referred to are united together permanently by any suitable cement or other means compatible with the materials of which the elements 11', 12 and 13' are made. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 2 and 5, it should not be necessary 'to effect any repairs to the toy throughout its useful life, which normally, in the case of toys of this general character,

p may be somewhat limited.

whichare animatablev so that when the toy is rocked 'or rolledjon its base., `the scene. that 4is observed by. thechild' shansss in. subject 'or in character and becomes., in" effect, aliteor'animated.. i "Weaye disoov'eredthat this result can be. Simply and eicieutly Obtainedvbx employing. .variable picture 'surfaces of the metal typesuch as are disclosedin the ufltent` .fQ-Saalbura No.y 1,465,564. It will be understood that in, addition to the specific. type of picture surface which is, employed. by Saalhura other known types, of variableY pictures which vhave .been developedrfor ,use in By an inspectionof Figures l, 3 and 4, it will be recognized that; the rolling orV rockingl movement of Athe-toy cooperating with the; multi-viewy character of the variable element- -1 4fonthe frontof the partition 13 wil-lf'enable thechi'ld, in manipulating the toy, to See various picturesor types `of pictures through the transparentupper'shell` or window 12. lt will be apparent' fromV looking at Figure 5, which shows the toy in the rest position, that rock-ing thetoy forwardly or backwardly around a hori zontal axis will cause diierent viewsvtobe presentedl producing suchfanimated scenes as have been referred t0, Y

may be employed. y

It will be understood that .oneof the advantages of our invention. isthe fact thatthe. animation effect is produced by .the use of a variable picture in which .the animated effect isproduced .by thernovemalt of the toy when it is rolled or vrocked back and forthL or in any othermanner bythevchildinplayingwiththetQy- The drawings accompanying this applicationdisclose,

one form of the invention which has been successfully used in the construtionof a childs toy of theA character described. Asshown, the ,toyis preferably .of the round ball type so as to 'be rugged,`eas`ily manipulated, and safe fortlhechild.

' tliedraw-ings.:

Figure l is a vfront elevation of the toy in its rest po-v sition on a fllat level surface;

Aliso, because of the fact thatthe partition 13` is normally inclined tothe vertical, it is possible to obtain a stilll different effect by lrock-ing the ball sidewise, whichhas the effect of changingV the angle of incidence 'from the line of sight from the eye to the surface of the multi-view element 14. Obviously, if the line of sight were exactly horizontal, and' if the normal position of the partition 13 were at all times vertical, the rocking of the ball sidewrise might not change the angle of incidence suflici'ently to give a satisfactory animated effect.

Instead of providing a lixed weight at thebottom of the opaque .shell or base 11 so as to always bring the ball hack to its rest position, as shown in Figure l., and Figure 5, we prefer to use instead'of' a dead Yweighta live weight in the form 4'of a spherical jingle bell 1.5

'or four lobes 167 constituting Athe surface ofthe sphere and` separated. by islits or openings 17. Within the sphere Figure 2 is an exploded view of the toy shown in Fig-y ure l, showing the parts separated from each other and to.- rollf around the interior of' the hollow sphere o'ff the bulls. 'f=

Said bell 15 is united by a rivet 19 to one end of ai small arm 20, the other end of which is riveted on the end of a small square shaft 21 extending through thev Patented June Z8, 1960 Y center of the partition 13 and having its axis perpendicular to the plane of said partition. As shown best in Figure 2, the upper end of the shaft 21 has a fixed collar' orshoulder 2.2 and there is a bushingv 23 in the aperture 214 Yof the partition 13. f The bushing 23`serves as a Spacer -between the shoulder 22 andtheV arm 20, and the lower end of theV rectangular stem or shaft 21 is riveted over on the other side, as shown at 21a, so as Vto'hold the said parts together while still enabling the armto rock the shaft 21 in the partition 13.

In order to prevent excessive rocking movement of the arm 20, there are formed a pair Vof stops on the! underside of the partition 13. These take the form of small r-ibs 26 formed or xed on the underside of the partition 13, which preferably are made of plastic material. It will be observed that the stops 26 are located below the center of the ball so that the position of the jingle bell 15 which in thsinstance constitutes the stabilizing weight for the device, will be a substantial distancebelow the center of the toy. The slight oscillations of the arm and bell between the stops 26 as the toy is rocked or rolled by the child will contribute to the proper ringing of the bell while at the same time, the slight displacement of the weight of the bell 15 will not be suicient to interfere materially with the stability of the toy.

In order'to make the device still more attractive, to

We claim:

l. A toy comprising a rockable body including a base having a convexly contoured under surface, a partition carried by said base in position for viewing from -a position above said base, said partition having xedly posi- -tioned thereon formations. which are positioned relative to one another so as toprese'nt'a variable picture image when seen from diferentiangles, and a weight located in said base in a plane whichy includes a linelerttending perpendicularly throughthe` center of said partition and has an arcuate line of intersection with said under' surface, said weight being located -below said partition and in spaced lateralY relation from` said line'extending perpendicularly to said partition to thereby locate the center of gravity of said body so as to position said partition at an Vangle with respect to the vertical when said body is at rest, whereby rocking motion of said body relative to its position of rest will result in a change in the angle of view with respect to said formations with consequent diierent visual images being produced.

2. A toy comprising a rockable body, said rockable body including a base having a portion with a convexly the upper end of the shaft 2.1 there is secured, a plastic n n formation in the form of a nose for the clowns face in the pictures displayed by this particular toy.

In Figures 7 and 8, we have shown a` somewhat different type of attention-directing device. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that in place of using a simple plastic form of nose such as 25 (shown in the prior described structure), we substitute an electric light bulb 43 which is ofthe asher type employing a self-con# tained, automatic on and off switch which is actuated by a conventional bi-metallic thermostatic element and is contained within the barrel 27 of the light bulb 43. The outer threaded base 28 of the light bulb 43 is screwed into a threaded shell 29 carried on the partition 13a. The threaded shell `29 has a metallic connection to a plate 30 fastened to the back or underside of the .partition V 13a, and which plate is equippedl with a springclipl forming a connection to the zinc outer shell of a dry cell32.:;The center pole 33 of the dry cell 32 contacts one en'd of'a spring 34, the other end of thefspring 34 'contacting the end of the outer zinc shell of another drycell 35.` The center pole 36 of said dry cell 35 contacts the ange of a plate 37, also fastened to the'back face or underside of l the partition 13a. The plate 37 has a pivotal support 38 for a switch lever 44 having an outer arm or nger 39 and an inner nger 40 which can be slid into contact with the center connection 41 of the light bulb 43.

The outer end 39 of the switch lever 44 is capable of a certain amount of movement in a slot 42 formed in the shell 11a. The end of the lever 44 protrudes slightly from the slot 42 so that by means of the linger, the switch lever 44 can be actuated to close the circuit of the flasher lamp, upon which the bulb v43 will begin to flash on and olf without' further attention of the child. This intermittently illuminates the bulb 43 which is positioned in the location of the nose of the clown shown in the picture.

It will be observed that the weight of the two dry cells 32vand 35 and the associated parts is substantially concentrated at a point located below the center of the 'toy when it is in the rest position shown in Figure 7, so that the weight of these parts serves to stabilize the ball and induce it to return to its rest position whenever it is rocked forwardly orbackwardly or in any direction away from its rest posititon shown in Figure 7.

-Various ofthe features of theiinvention believed to be new are set forth in the appended claims.

produced.

contoured under surface and a substantially circular cross-section in a plane spaced from the crown of said under surface, a partition carried by said base in a plane parallel to said plane containingl said circular cross-section and in position for viewing from a position above said plane, said partition having tixedly positioned thereon formations `which are positioned relative to one another so as to present a variable picture image when seen from different angles, and a weight located in said base portion at a point spaced below said plane and in laterally spaced relation to a line extending perpendicularly through the center of said circular cross-section, thereby locating the center of gravity of said body so as to position said partition at an angle with respect to the vertical when said body is at rest, whereby rocking motion of said body relative to its position of rest will result in a change in the angle of view with respect to said formations with consequent dilferent visual images being produced. v

3. A toy comprising a rockable body, said rockable body including a base element and an upper element, said base element having a convexly contoured under surface and a substantiallyY circular cross-section in a plane spaced from the crown of -said under surface, said .upper element 'being carried by said base element and including a transparent window, a partition carried with in said body ina plane parallel to said plane Containing said circular cross-section and in position for viewing through said window,v said partition having xedly positioned thereon formations which are positioned relative to one another so as to present a variable picture image when seen from different angles, and a weight located in said base at a point spaced `below said plane and in laterally spaced relation -to a line extending perpendicularly through the center of said circular cross-section, thereby locating the center of gravity of said body so as to position said partition at an angle with respect to the vertical when said body is lat rest, whereby rocking motion of said body relative to its position of rest will result in a change in the angle of view with respect to said formations with consequent different visual images being References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 

